Phoenix-area startup automaker moving into La. plant

BATON ROUGE, La. — A startup car company from Tempe, Ariz., called Elio Motors is moving into
the former General Motors plant in Shreveport, where it would build
three-wheeled, low-price vehicles.

The deal was announced Thursday for Elio to take over part of the plant to
assemble its unusual-looking car. The company said the two-seater averages
65 miles per gallon of gas and will sell for $6,800 when commercial production
begins in mid-2014.

Elio said it will hire 1,500 workers by late 2015, reviving a
plant that once built pickup trucks and the commercial Hummer.

The plant has been closed since late August.

An industrial developer is buying the entire facility in conjunction with Elio
and hopes to lease portions of the site to other tenants. Details of the
purchase price and arrangement weren’t disclosed.